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Friday, Jan 23, 2026
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Sudan Cuts Diplomatic Ties with UAE Amid Civil War Escalation
The severing of relations follows accusations of UAE support for the Rapid Support Forces involved in ongoing violence.
Sudan has announced the severance of diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing allegations of the Gulf nation's support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amid the ongoing civil conflict.
This decision follows a series of violent incidents in the Port Sudan region, traditionally considered safe, where drone strikes targeted key infrastructure over the past three days.
The attacks included strikes on the international airport, a major power station, and a hotel.
Sudan's Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim levied accusations against the UAE, claiming it has violated Sudanese sovereignty through its support for the RSF, a paramilitary group engaged in the civil war that has already resulted in thousands of fatalities and millions of displaced persons.
The RSF has been implicated in various violent acts throughout the country.
While the UAE has consistently denied allegations of providing financial and military support to the RSF, these charges have persisted in international discourse.
The situation in Sudan has escalated to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
In response to the announcement by the African nation, Sudan's ambassador to the UAE will be recalled, and diplomatic missions in the Gulf state will be closed.
The conflict, which has raged for two years, has drawn international concern.
Both the United Kingdom and the United States have urged other nations to halt any support for the various factions involved in the conflict, including the UAE.
This international scrutiny intensified following a ruling from the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which dismissed Sudan's case against the UAE that accused it of complicity in genocide, citing the UAE's exemption under Article 9 of the Genocide Convention.
UAE officials, including Reem Ketait, the deputy assistant minister for political affairs, characterized the court's ruling as definitive, urging the international community to prioritize efforts to end the conflict and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those affected by the war.
There are ongoing allegations of war crimes against both the Sudanese army and the RSF, further complicating the situation in the region.
This decision follows a series of violent incidents in the Port Sudan region, traditionally considered safe, where drone strikes targeted key infrastructure over the past three days.
The attacks included strikes on the international airport, a major power station, and a hotel.
Sudan's Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim levied accusations against the UAE, claiming it has violated Sudanese sovereignty through its support for the RSF, a paramilitary group engaged in the civil war that has already resulted in thousands of fatalities and millions of displaced persons.
The RSF has been implicated in various violent acts throughout the country.
While the UAE has consistently denied allegations of providing financial and military support to the RSF, these charges have persisted in international discourse.
The situation in Sudan has escalated to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
In response to the announcement by the African nation, Sudan's ambassador to the UAE will be recalled, and diplomatic missions in the Gulf state will be closed.
The conflict, which has raged for two years, has drawn international concern.
Both the United Kingdom and the United States have urged other nations to halt any support for the various factions involved in the conflict, including the UAE.
This international scrutiny intensified following a ruling from the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which dismissed Sudan's case against the UAE that accused it of complicity in genocide, citing the UAE's exemption under Article 9 of the Genocide Convention.
UAE officials, including Reem Ketait, the deputy assistant minister for political affairs, characterized the court's ruling as definitive, urging the international community to prioritize efforts to end the conflict and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those affected by the war.
There are ongoing allegations of war crimes against both the Sudanese army and the RSF, further complicating the situation in the region.
